Tag: Polemics

Caution About Religious Controversies

Richard Baxter cautions against excessive involvement in religious controversies, advising to prioritize essential, biblical truths over divisive debates and unprofitable questions. He warns that premature engagement in controversies can divert one’s attention from greater spiritual needs, corrupt the mind, and lead to pride and erroneous beliefs. Baxter stresses the continual focus on fundamental religious truths as the foundation for spiritual growth.… Read More Caution About Religious Controversies

Paul J. BarthLeave a comment

Christian Fortitude is Meek

The whole Christian life is compared to a warfare, and fitly so. And the most eminent Christians are the best soldiers, endued with the greatest degrees of Christian fortitude. And it is the duty of God’s people to be steadfast and vigorous in their opposition to the designs and ways of such as are endeavoring to overthrow the kingdom of Christ, and the interest of religion. But yet many persons seem to be quite mistaken concerning the nature of Christian fortitude. It is an exceeding diverse thing from a brutal fierceness, or the boldness of the beasts of prey. True Christian fortitude consists in strength of mind, through grace, exerted in two things: 1) in ruling and suppressing the evil and unruly passions and affections of the mind; and 2) in steadfastly and freely exerting, and following good affections and dispositions, without being hindered by sinful fear, or the opposition of enemies.… Read More Christian Fortitude is Meek

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How To Avoid The Cage Stage

Having made up your minds, upon evidence, as to what is truth, then have as little to do with religious controversy as you can. Seek a practical religion, rather than a polemical religion. Treat it as a something rather to be done than to be talked about. Be not fond of disputation. Be no religious knight-errant, fighting against every one who differs from you. A pugnacious disposition, whether it be from natural combativeness, or prevailing vanity—is a dangerous thing to piety, which, like the dew, falls only in a still atmosphere, and lies longest in the shade. Be too much taken up with adding “to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity” (2 Pet. 1:5-7), to have much time for strife and contention.… Read More How To Avoid The Cage Stage

Paul J. BarthLeave a comment